By Halie Kines
Centre Daily Times
SPRING TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Two people were rescued from a grain bin in Spring Township this past weekend in an agricultural rescue by emergency responders from the surrounding areas.
Multiple emergency services were involved in the response efforts at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday for an initial call that reported “a man buried up to his head in corn inside of a grain bin,” the Alpha Fire Company wrote in a Facebook post on Monday.
Officers from the Spring Township Police Department arrived first at the scene and found two men in the grain bin. One was buried to his knees and the other had only his face above the corn.
“With the help of a farm worker, officers were able to attach a rope to the victim’s wrist, hoping to prevent him from being buried any further,” the post states. “Rescue crews began to arrive, and quickly deployed ‘The Great Wall of Rescue’ — a tool specifically designed to assist in grain bin rescues by surrounding the patient, allowing crews to use handheld drill-powered augers to remove grain from around the victim.”
At one point, the person became “entirely enveloped by grain,” the post states, which made the situation look “grim.” Rescuers ran into a number of challenges including obstructions, the position and condition of the person, as well as the heat inside of the grain bin.
“Through diligent work, rescuers were able to remove the grain from around the victim and pull him onto the grain pile, approximately 90 minutes after dispatch,” the fire company wrote.
Rescuers secured the person in a harness and performed a high-angle rescue to lift them from the grain bin and lower him to the ground. He was flown to UPMC Altoona by Geisinger Life Flight 2 and was released from the hospital less than a day later, according to the company’s post.
Alpha recalled five years ago when the Penn State Ag Extension taught a grain bin rescue course in the county; “Great Walls of Rescue” were placed into service in the county at that time.
“Hoping that this training would never be necessary to use, but knowing that it may one day be needed, crews were fortunate to have been prepared for this incident with prior training and the proper equipment, allowing for a favorable outcome,” the post states.
The fire company continued: “Incredible work by all involved who helped to save a life.”
Citizens Hook and Ladder, a fire company in Milesburg, posted on Facebook that they’re fortunate to be one of the few companies to have a Great Wall of Rescue and to have numerous members trained in the rescue.
“The outcome was amazing and we are so thankful for the other volunteers in our community that dedicate their time as well as our members,” Citizens Hook and Ladder said in the post.
A number of first responders helped with the rescue: Spring Township Police Department, Undine Fire Company, Logan Fire Company No. 1 Bellefonte, Bellefonte EMS, medics from Mount Nittany Health, Pleasant Gap Fire Company, Citizens Hook & Ladder, Millheim Fire Company #1, Miles Township Fire Company, Alpha Fire Company and Geisinger Life Flight 2.
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